Community Wind Map

Community Wind refers to locally-owned, commercial-scale wind projects that optimize local benefits. Locally-owned means that one or more members of the local community has a significant direct financial stake in the project other than through land lease payments, tax revenue, or other payments in lieu of taxes.

Community Wind accounts for more than 4 percent of the overall U.S. wind energy capacity with 1,521 MW (January 2010, Windustry) out of 35,170 MW total (January 2010, American Wind Energy Association/Windustry) for the country. Overall, new wind energy capacity in the U.S. for 2009 was estimated at nearly 10,000 MW compared to 8,500 MW added in 2008, a record high.